Bosco Verticale, Milan, Italy

Milan’s vertical forest

Nice project but I wonder how the trees and plantings are affected by wind at those heights.

Stefano Beori’s towers in Milan that are characterised by their integrated vegetation win praise

Bosco Verticale is located in Milan’s emerging Porta Nuova district. The project, which translates in English as “vertical forest,” comprises two landscaped towers that between them contain 113 apartments offering expansive views across the city.

The design by Stefano Beori is characterised by its integrated vegetation comprising 1,000 different species of trees, shrubs and plants. In total, the scheme contains 780 planted trees, seeking to increase the site’s biodiversity, which may have been adversely affected during the project’s construction.

The taller of the two towers climbs to a total height of 112 metres, with staggered concrete balconies protruding from each of the scheme’s façades. Each individual dwelling features a private garden which protects interior living space from acoustic pollution, dust particles, harsh winds, and direct sunlight. At roof level, photovoltaic panels contribute to the self-sufficiency of the complex, while greywater from the building is filtered and reused to irrigate the site’s extensive flora.

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) Awards Jury named the Bosco Verticale, Milan, as the “2015 Best Tall Building Worldwide” at the 14th Annual CTBUH International Best Tall Building Awards Symposium, Ceremony & Dinner held November 12 at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago.

The jury applauded Bosco Verticale, which translates to “Vertical Forest,” for its extraordinary implementation of vegetation at such scale and height. The building supplants traditional cladding materials with screens of greenery such that the plants act as an extension of the tower’s exterior envelope, creating a distinct microclimate.

Stefano Boeri, Founding Partner of Boeri Studio Architteti, accepted the award and gave the audience an inspirational message on failures, “Honestly, the reason we were able to do the Bosco Verticale was because we were able to learn from failures… and what I hope is that other attempts will learn from the mistakes we made with the Bosco Verticale.”

In previous comments on the building Stefano Boeri has said: “I think this is a prototype of a possible way to extend the natural sphere in a hyperdense urban context. This is a not a unique way to implement biodiversity in an urban environment, but it is for sure one of the most environmental ways. So let’s see together what will happen.”

“We are continuously asked by research centres from all over the world to follow what will happen. I think that every year we could have a moment of thought and discussion about the results – month by month, year by year.”